Grace is a divine energy or spiritual intelligence that comes from a divine source. Some people call it 'God,' 'Jesus,' 'spirit,' 'the universe,' 'a higher power'—whatever it is, wherever you are in your path, that's your prerogative in terms of what you call it. This beautiful energy is available to each and every one of us, regardless of whether you believe it or not, as well.
Once you learn to become more graceful, you will see this divine intelligence working in your life.
Showing posts with label well being. Show all posts
Showing posts with label well being. Show all posts
Friday, March 20, 2015
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
12 Spiritually Uplifting Rituals To Try
Rituals are a great way to bring the spirit of playfulness and gratitude back into your life. Here are 12 fun, inspiring and spiritually uplifting holiday rituals to try, so enlist a friend or two to take the journey with you.
1. Sometimes it's those little things that make you feel good.
Inhale an uplifting scent like jasmine, vanilla, orange or geranium.
Eat a "happy food" — oranges, mangos, anything vanilla or a good piece of dark chocolate. Carry a "happiness object" — a fun photo, happy face sticker or a small stone that will remind you to lighten up.
2. Put down your phone and take a digital detox.
Take an hour out of your day to turn off your phone, computer and tablets. Now breathe!
Take a nap, walk in the park (no texting allowed), or have a face-to-face conversation with a friend.
3. Throw an exchange party with your friends.
Go through all your old jewelry, shoes, accessories and clothes. Pick out things that you've outgrown because it no longer feels like you.
Invite your friends to do the same, come together and have an exchange party. Everyone can leave with a gift or two and no one has to spend a dime.
Read more
1. Sometimes it's those little things that make you feel good.
Inhale an uplifting scent like jasmine, vanilla, orange or geranium.
Eat a "happy food" — oranges, mangos, anything vanilla or a good piece of dark chocolate. Carry a "happiness object" — a fun photo, happy face sticker or a small stone that will remind you to lighten up.
2. Put down your phone and take a digital detox.
Take an hour out of your day to turn off your phone, computer and tablets. Now breathe!
Take a nap, walk in the park (no texting allowed), or have a face-to-face conversation with a friend.
3. Throw an exchange party with your friends.
Go through all your old jewelry, shoes, accessories and clothes. Pick out things that you've outgrown because it no longer feels like you.
Invite your friends to do the same, come together and have an exchange party. Everyone can leave with a gift or two and no one has to spend a dime.
Read more
Wednesday, December 03, 2014
What Your 5 Senses Can Teach You About Mindfulness
Being in the moment is about getting out of our heads and into our bodies. Your body does not live in the past or the future; it is in the here and now. So how do we connect our bodies through this grounding sensuality? By delighting our senses!
Here are a few ideas to help you tune into your five senses as a form of mindfulness:
1. Taste
Whenever you are eating or drinking, really focus on the taste of item. Is it bitter or sweet? Salty or spicy? Being mindful when you are eating is so important, and will help you to slow down and aid your digestion.
2. Sight
Electronic gadgets keep us out of the present moment and unaware of what's happening outside of the screen. Try leaving your phone at home and take a walk. So many of us walk with our heads down, buried in our thoughts, without even realizing it. Look up to the beautiful horizon and to the people you pass on the street. Notice how the shadows dance in the sun.
Read more
Here are a few ideas to help you tune into your five senses as a form of mindfulness:
1. Taste
Whenever you are eating or drinking, really focus on the taste of item. Is it bitter or sweet? Salty or spicy? Being mindful when you are eating is so important, and will help you to slow down and aid your digestion.
2. Sight
Electronic gadgets keep us out of the present moment and unaware of what's happening outside of the screen. Try leaving your phone at home and take a walk. So many of us walk with our heads down, buried in our thoughts, without even realizing it. Look up to the beautiful horizon and to the people you pass on the street. Notice how the shadows dance in the sun.
Read more
Friday, November 28, 2014
10 Tips To Beat The Winter Blahs
During the winter season, we are expected to continue at the same pace we did when there was more light and the weather was warmer. To help balance the shift of seasons, consider these 10 tips to help you create space to embrace rest and restoration during the winter months.
1. Maximize the light you have.
Open curtains, remove screens, clean windows, and trim back tree branches to let in more light. Find a bright location in your home where you can sit or lie down to soak in the sun's energy. Rearrange furniture in east- or south-facing rooms to maximize natural light. Embrace the natural light, however limited, to help start off the day on the right foot.
2. Reduce obligations that add stress to your life.
Be mindful of what things are necessary and fulfilling. Let go of those things that cause you to feel overextended.
Read more
1. Maximize the light you have.
Open curtains, remove screens, clean windows, and trim back tree branches to let in more light. Find a bright location in your home where you can sit or lie down to soak in the sun's energy. Rearrange furniture in east- or south-facing rooms to maximize natural light. Embrace the natural light, however limited, to help start off the day on the right foot.
2. Reduce obligations that add stress to your life.
Be mindful of what things are necessary and fulfilling. Let go of those things that cause you to feel overextended.
Read more
Thursday, November 27, 2014
A Personal Thanksgiving Story
My family from Nebraska, came to visit me here in Oak Park, which is right outside Chicago. My sister, her husband, my 3 beautiful nieces and some friends were all there. I hosted a dinner of 8, and since I love to cook, I made a full spread meal... everything made from scratch!
I spared no time or expense to treat my Family and Friends!
The story begins on Thanksgiving morning. I started the day listening to a message on 'Gratitude' that I found in the Bob Proctor coaching site. I thought it was perfect for the time and occasion.... I listened to it a number of times. In particular, my ears fell upon his words... 'Gratitude cannot just be an intellectual exercise, you must have a deep, profound sense of Gratitude to experience a true connection to Source'.
After hearing these words, I wondered if I actually knew what he was referring to. I questioned whether my Gratitude exercises were consisting of this quality of Gratitude... Well of course, God was listening to my question because, the very next morning (when I normally do my gratitude work) I was to experience a totally different Gratitude experience.
I have a little dog, Gretta. She is a beautiful King Charles Spaniel I rescued about 5 years ago. Gretta has been an amazing companion through many changes in my life ... I have experienced such a marvelous connection with her.
I love her so much.
Well, on Thanksgiving evening I let her out the back door so she could go potty in the back yard. I remember looking down into her big brown eyes, she was telling me she didn't really want to go out. It was really chilly in Chicago that evening. About 20 degrees F. But, I told her she had to and off she went. Then I shut the door and was pulled away to my family with lots of commotion and requests. The girls were calling Aunt Candy back and my sister was asking for help and people were messaging me on my phone ....
I forgot about Gretta! When I realized what I had done, I jumped up in fright and rushed to the back door.
She was not there....
Gretta does not wear a collar or tags. She is my shadow and never ventures away from me. But I had left her out for an hour and a half!!!!
I remembered her looking in my eyes, not wanting to go out. God I wished I had listened to her!
I immediately threw on my coat, hat and gloves and took off down the alley looking for her. My sister helped... I called a friend, we got out flashlights and walked for hours around the neighborhood. It was freezing, our toes and fingers were numb, but all I could think of was how poor Gretta must be. So cold and so scared.
We got in the car with the windows open and flashlights shining down the sides of houses, between buildings, underneath cars, on other people's front and back porches. Even in piles of leaves.
We continued the search all through Oak Park with no sign of her. My mind was racing - I imagined her hit by a car, wandering around looking for help (she's a really shy, timid girl), huddled in a corner trying to keep herself warm. All of a sudden the world was huge, with an infinite number of nooks and crannies. My desire was to look in all of them until I found her… I was so upset and distraught.
Of course, I was responsible... I forgot my precious dog was outside! How could I forget? If something happened to her, how am I going to forgive myself?
Before we set out searching I called 911 to notify them of my missing pup. They were hooked up to the local department in Oak Park and told me if anyone called in they would call me right away.
No call and no sign of Gretta.
By 2 am I decided to go to bed and pray for a miracle....
I didn't sleep on Thursday night - I decided that now was the time to exercise my learning, my studying, my practice... 100%.
I was not going to allow my imagination to work against me... I began painting a picture of the perfect scenario.
'God, I pray that Gretta was picked up by a kind soul, she is now snuggled in blankets, warm and safe. I pray that I awake in the morning and call the Oak Park police department to find that someone called in notifying them of a beautiful King Charles spaniel that was found. I pray that I pick her up and bring her home.'
I got up a few times in the night looking out the back door, I tossed and turned holding my vision. My mind wanted to take me to fear, blame, guilt, sadness... but I decidedly held onto my vision.
My 6 year old niece, Lauren, shared a bed with me that night. I listened to her sweet breathing all night, imagining her playing with Gretta the next day.
At 7am I called the Oak Park police.... someone had called and reported Gretta lost!!!!
A kind lady called me right away... She had Gretta at home safe and sound. She saw her the night before right as Gretta was about to cross one of the busiest streets in Oak Park. She quickly pulled her car over and snatched her up. Gretta was welcomed into her home and even fed treats of filet mignon!
In that moment, I felt the deepest, most profound sense of Gratitude I have felt in a long, long time. Tears streamed down my face. My heart was completely raw and open, filled with thanks for a prayer perfectly answered according to my imagined vision.
I recently heard the news that my sister and her family are moving to Chicago. My family and I have not lived in the same city for over 20 years.... Another vision I asked for.
My sister and her husband spent Friday and Saturday looking for homes around Chicagoland and I spent the most wonderful 2 days having Chicago holiday adventures, seeing Elf and Rudolph, the circus, shopping and dining with my nieces! We had so much fun. It was absolutely magnified by my experience of deep and profound gratitude.
I am incredibly grateful for this experience to awaken and quicken within me the feeling of Gratitude for my animals, my family, my colleagues… My Life!
Of course the Universe was listening and answered my question and my prayers...
Candy Scott
This story comes from Candy Scott, someone the Proctor Gallagher Institute is proud to be associated with.
I spared no time or expense to treat my Family and Friends!
The story begins on Thanksgiving morning. I started the day listening to a message on 'Gratitude' that I found in the Bob Proctor coaching site. I thought it was perfect for the time and occasion.... I listened to it a number of times. In particular, my ears fell upon his words... 'Gratitude cannot just be an intellectual exercise, you must have a deep, profound sense of Gratitude to experience a true connection to Source'.
After hearing these words, I wondered if I actually knew what he was referring to. I questioned whether my Gratitude exercises were consisting of this quality of Gratitude... Well of course, God was listening to my question because, the very next morning (when I normally do my gratitude work) I was to experience a totally different Gratitude experience.
I have a little dog, Gretta. She is a beautiful King Charles Spaniel I rescued about 5 years ago. Gretta has been an amazing companion through many changes in my life ... I have experienced such a marvelous connection with her.
I love her so much.
Well, on Thanksgiving evening I let her out the back door so she could go potty in the back yard. I remember looking down into her big brown eyes, she was telling me she didn't really want to go out. It was really chilly in Chicago that evening. About 20 degrees F. But, I told her she had to and off she went. Then I shut the door and was pulled away to my family with lots of commotion and requests. The girls were calling Aunt Candy back and my sister was asking for help and people were messaging me on my phone ....
I forgot about Gretta! When I realized what I had done, I jumped up in fright and rushed to the back door.
She was not there....
Gretta does not wear a collar or tags. She is my shadow and never ventures away from me. But I had left her out for an hour and a half!!!!
I remembered her looking in my eyes, not wanting to go out. God I wished I had listened to her!
I immediately threw on my coat, hat and gloves and took off down the alley looking for her. My sister helped... I called a friend, we got out flashlights and walked for hours around the neighborhood. It was freezing, our toes and fingers were numb, but all I could think of was how poor Gretta must be. So cold and so scared.
We got in the car with the windows open and flashlights shining down the sides of houses, between buildings, underneath cars, on other people's front and back porches. Even in piles of leaves.
We continued the search all through Oak Park with no sign of her. My mind was racing - I imagined her hit by a car, wandering around looking for help (she's a really shy, timid girl), huddled in a corner trying to keep herself warm. All of a sudden the world was huge, with an infinite number of nooks and crannies. My desire was to look in all of them until I found her… I was so upset and distraught.
Of course, I was responsible... I forgot my precious dog was outside! How could I forget? If something happened to her, how am I going to forgive myself?
Before we set out searching I called 911 to notify them of my missing pup. They were hooked up to the local department in Oak Park and told me if anyone called in they would call me right away.
No call and no sign of Gretta.
By 2 am I decided to go to bed and pray for a miracle....
I didn't sleep on Thursday night - I decided that now was the time to exercise my learning, my studying, my practice... 100%.
I was not going to allow my imagination to work against me... I began painting a picture of the perfect scenario.
'God, I pray that Gretta was picked up by a kind soul, she is now snuggled in blankets, warm and safe. I pray that I awake in the morning and call the Oak Park police department to find that someone called in notifying them of a beautiful King Charles spaniel that was found. I pray that I pick her up and bring her home.'
I got up a few times in the night looking out the back door, I tossed and turned holding my vision. My mind wanted to take me to fear, blame, guilt, sadness... but I decidedly held onto my vision.
My 6 year old niece, Lauren, shared a bed with me that night. I listened to her sweet breathing all night, imagining her playing with Gretta the next day.
At 7am I called the Oak Park police.... someone had called and reported Gretta lost!!!!
A kind lady called me right away... She had Gretta at home safe and sound. She saw her the night before right as Gretta was about to cross one of the busiest streets in Oak Park. She quickly pulled her car over and snatched her up. Gretta was welcomed into her home and even fed treats of filet mignon!
In that moment, I felt the deepest, most profound sense of Gratitude I have felt in a long, long time. Tears streamed down my face. My heart was completely raw and open, filled with thanks for a prayer perfectly answered according to my imagined vision.
I recently heard the news that my sister and her family are moving to Chicago. My family and I have not lived in the same city for over 20 years.... Another vision I asked for.
My sister and her husband spent Friday and Saturday looking for homes around Chicagoland and I spent the most wonderful 2 days having Chicago holiday adventures, seeing Elf and Rudolph, the circus, shopping and dining with my nieces! We had so much fun. It was absolutely magnified by my experience of deep and profound gratitude.
I am incredibly grateful for this experience to awaken and quicken within me the feeling of Gratitude for my animals, my family, my colleagues… My Life!
Of course the Universe was listening and answered my question and my prayers...
Candy Scott
This story comes from Candy Scott, someone the Proctor Gallagher Institute is proud to be associated with.
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
10 Tips To Beat The Winter Blahs
During the winter season, we are expected to continue at the same pace we did when there was more light and the weather was warmer. To help balance the shift of seasons, consider these 10 tips to help you create space to embrace rest and restoration during the winter months.
1. Maximize the light you have.
Open curtains, remove screens, clean windows, and trim back tree branches to let in more light. Find a bright location in your home where you can sit or lie down to soak in the sun's energy. Rearrange furniture in east- or south-facing rooms to maximize natural light. Embrace the natural light, however limited, to help start off the day on the right foot.
2. Reduce obligations that add stress to your life.
Be mindful of what things are necessary and fulfilling. Let go of those things that cause you to feel overextended.
Read more
1. Maximize the light you have.
Open curtains, remove screens, clean windows, and trim back tree branches to let in more light. Find a bright location in your home where you can sit or lie down to soak in the sun's energy. Rearrange furniture in east- or south-facing rooms to maximize natural light. Embrace the natural light, however limited, to help start off the day on the right foot.
2. Reduce obligations that add stress to your life.
Be mindful of what things are necessary and fulfilling. Let go of those things that cause you to feel overextended.
Read more
Friday, November 21, 2014
10 Questions to Help You Find Your Purpose
This simple exercise will help put you on the path to self-knowledge—and possibly discover your next step.
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
9 Signs You're A Highly Sensitive Person
1. You're hyper aware of subtleties in their environment.
HSPs usually notice things that other people miss. Maybe it's a new haircut or furniture that's been rearranged. Sounds can startle them easily, and they're more sensitive to certain smells and fabrics.
2. You're easily affected by others' moods.
Everyone is affected by the moods of others, both positive and negative, but the effect is heightened in highly sensitive people. It's great if you're around positive people, but not so great when you're around people with heavy energy.
Read more
HSPs usually notice things that other people miss. Maybe it's a new haircut or furniture that's been rearranged. Sounds can startle them easily, and they're more sensitive to certain smells and fabrics.
2. You're easily affected by others' moods.
Everyone is affected by the moods of others, both positive and negative, but the effect is heightened in highly sensitive people. It's great if you're around positive people, but not so great when you're around people with heavy energy.
Read more
Sunday, November 09, 2014
7 Signs You're Living With Purpose
The world has a lot to offer, and it's common for people to wonder if they're making the right choices. The concept of purpose may feel elusive for some, but rest assured that we each have at least one.
Knowing your purpose relieves much of this tension, but it's not foolproof. Questions may still remain. We all want to know that we're headed in the right direction, so here are a few signs that you're on a purposeful journey.
Knowing your purpose relieves much of this tension, but it's not foolproof. Questions may still remain. We all want to know that we're headed in the right direction, so here are a few signs that you're on a purposeful journey.
Sunday, November 02, 2014
The Easiest & Hardest Places to Live in America
The New York Times has put together a composite ranking of where Americans are healthy and wealthy, or struggling. Take a look at a map showing the easiest places to live, and the hardest to places to live in the U.S.
Why anyone in the South would continue to vote Republican after seeing this Map defies logic
Why anyone in the South would continue to vote Republican after seeing this Map defies logic
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
Finding Meaning and Purpose in Your Life
Do you wonder about your life's purpose? How do you become happy? How do you find inner peace?
Read more
Read more
Friday, May 16, 2014
Appreciating Appreciation
There’s a song called “Thank God for Dirty Dishes” that makes the point that if you’re lucky to have enough food to make dirty dishes, you should be grateful.
So instead of grousing about your property taxes, be thankful you own property. When you have to wait in line at the bank or are stuck in traffic, just be grateful you have money in the bank and a car to drive.
It makes sense, but that doesn’t make it easy.
I have to admit that appreciation has not been a natural attribute for me. In my more ambitious days when I believed that excess was not enough, gratitude seemed like a form of surrender and a very poor life strategy. After all, if you’re satisfied with the way things are, you’ll never make them better.
What a pity I had to reach my 50s before I began to appreciate appreciation. I finally began to see that it was irresponsible and irreverent not to realize how many things I should feel grateful for. I also came to realize how good it feels to acknowledge how good I have it.
Real gratitude is much more than politeness, like saying thank you when someone passes the salt or conveys good wishes; it’s a deeper psychological state of genuine thankfulness.
Whether we believe whatever good fortune we have is the product of our own labor and talents, random luck, or a gift from God, the fact remains that each of us could spend a full day identifying all the things that merit gratitude.
According to an old proverb, “If you never learn the language of gratitude, you’ll never be on speaking terms with happiness.”
I’m still a beginner, but it’s true; the more I appreciate, the happier I am. That’s a lesson I want my children to learn.
Michael Josephson
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
The Benefits of Sex
1. Sex is a beauty treatment. Scientific tests find that when women make love they produce amounts of the hormone estrogen, which makes hair shine and skin smooth.
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2. Gentle, relaxed lovemaking reduces your chances of suffering dermatitis, skin rashes and blemishes. The sweat produced cleanses the pores and makes your skin glow.
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3. Lovemaking can burn up those calories you piled on during that romantic dinner.
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4. Sex is one of the safest sports you can take up. It stretches and tones up just about every muscle in the body. It's more enjoyable than swimming 20 laps, and you don't need special sneakers!
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5. Sex is an instant cure for mild depression. It releases endorphins into the bloodstream, producing a sense of euphoria and leaving you with a feeling of well-being.
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6. The more sex you have, the more you will be offered. The sexually active body gives off greater quantities of chemicals called pheromones. These subtle sex perfumes drive the opposite sex crazy!
===========! ==
7 . Sex is the safest tranquilizer in the world. IT IS 10 TIMES MORE EFFECTIVE THAN VALIUM.
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8. Kissing each day will keep the dentist away. Kissing encourages saliva to wash food from the teeth and lowers the level of the acid that causes decay, preventing plaque build-up.
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9. Sex actually relieves headaches. A lovemaking session can release the tension that restricts blood vessels in the brain.
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10. A lot of lovemaking can unblock a stuffy nose. Sex is a natural antihistamine. It can helpcombat asthma and hay fever.
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2. Gentle, relaxed lovemaking reduces your chances of suffering dermatitis, skin rashes and blemishes. The sweat produced cleanses the pores and makes your skin glow.
============ =
3. Lovemaking can burn up those calories you piled on during that romantic dinner.
============ =
4. Sex is one of the safest sports you can take up. It stretches and tones up just about every muscle in the body. It's more enjoyable than swimming 20 laps, and you don't need special sneakers!
============ =
5. Sex is an instant cure for mild depression. It releases endorphins into the bloodstream, producing a sense of euphoria and leaving you with a feeling of well-being.
============ =
6. The more sex you have, the more you will be offered. The sexually active body gives off greater quantities of chemicals called pheromones. These subtle sex perfumes drive the opposite sex crazy!
===========! ==
7 . Sex is the safest tranquilizer in the world. IT IS 10 TIMES MORE EFFECTIVE THAN VALIUM.
============ =
8. Kissing each day will keep the dentist away. Kissing encourages saliva to wash food from the teeth and lowers the level of the acid that causes decay, preventing plaque build-up.
============ =
9. Sex actually relieves headaches. A lovemaking session can release the tension that restricts blood vessels in the brain.
============ =
10. A lot of lovemaking can unblock a stuffy nose. Sex is a natural antihistamine. It can helpcombat asthma and hay fever.
Friday, April 25, 2014
31 Ways to Get Happy—for Free!
Every day there are trillions of treasures that cost nothing, and they enrich our lives in countless ways. When we turn our attention to counting and embracing the small things in front of us, we feel like a million bucks.
Have fun celebrating, discovering, inventing and sharing the things that you love to do that cost nothing.
Read more
Have fun celebrating, discovering, inventing and sharing the things that you love to do that cost nothing.
Read more
Monday, March 24, 2014
35 Tricks To Climb Out Of A Bad Mood
These are the words that I (rather melodramatically) whisper-shouted a few days ago while pawing through my bathroom cabinets. After a 16-hour work day and ages stuck in traffic, I’d officially reached that overtired, non-rational emotional state where just about anything will push you over the edge.
And in this case? It was the discovery that I was out of toothpaste.
Which was obviously the end of the world and probably a direct result of some failure on my part and indicative of my value as a human being.
But I eventually unearthed a tiny travel sized tube of toothpaste, brushed my pearly whites, and lived to blog another day. Close call, right?
Bad moods happen to the best of us, but they don’t have to derail your day or infect your relationships. Really! Here are 35 of my favorite ways to get out of a funk.
1. Start the flow of positive energy—do something good for someone else!
Maybe that’s popping quarters in an expired parking meter or just holding the door.
2. Play your favorite music super loud. Sing off-key at the top of your lungs.
How off-key can you get? Have a one-person dance party in front of the mirror, in your pajamas! (PS. This is one of my all-time favorite things to do when I’m stressed out.)
3. Indulge in your “guilty pleasures.”
Maybe that’s chocolate cake, back-to-back episodes of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, cheese and a stack of US Weekly magazines. Of course, these are guilty pleasures because we only do them once in a while.
Read more
And in this case? It was the discovery that I was out of toothpaste.
Which was obviously the end of the world and probably a direct result of some failure on my part and indicative of my value as a human being.
But I eventually unearthed a tiny travel sized tube of toothpaste, brushed my pearly whites, and lived to blog another day. Close call, right?
Bad moods happen to the best of us, but they don’t have to derail your day or infect your relationships. Really! Here are 35 of my favorite ways to get out of a funk.
1. Start the flow of positive energy—do something good for someone else!
Maybe that’s popping quarters in an expired parking meter or just holding the door.
2. Play your favorite music super loud. Sing off-key at the top of your lungs.
How off-key can you get? Have a one-person dance party in front of the mirror, in your pajamas! (PS. This is one of my all-time favorite things to do when I’m stressed out.)
3. Indulge in your “guilty pleasures.”
Maybe that’s chocolate cake, back-to-back episodes of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, cheese and a stack of US Weekly magazines. Of course, these are guilty pleasures because we only do them once in a while.
Read more
Sunday, March 23, 2014
How Yoga Helped Me Deal With The Unfairness Of Life
Once upon a time, I didn’t have a regular practice. Then a door opened and I walked into a steamy, sweat-soaked studio nearly every single day during my two years of graduate school at NYU. The writer in me was craving anything but writing, and I thought yoga was physical. And it was.
There were abs and arms to tone, weight to lose, hips to stretch. But there was more. All the bending and moving and concentrating on my body was unearthing years of buried emotions. Two years into it, and my practice was calming me, healing me. I found myself craving yoga in place of food or drink, instead of closure and explanation. Yoga had become my medicine.
Was I that sick? No, not really. I was lost and a little sad, hating a job I was supposed to love, and stuck with the frustration of life events gone wrong.
When I was 14, my father suffered a traumatic brain injury. One fluke car accident and I was left with a whole new life trajectory full of challenge, sadness, anger, growth and acceptance. No one could have seen any of it coming.
Read more
There were abs and arms to tone, weight to lose, hips to stretch. But there was more. All the bending and moving and concentrating on my body was unearthing years of buried emotions. Two years into it, and my practice was calming me, healing me. I found myself craving yoga in place of food or drink, instead of closure and explanation. Yoga had become my medicine.
Was I that sick? No, not really. I was lost and a little sad, hating a job I was supposed to love, and stuck with the frustration of life events gone wrong.
When I was 14, my father suffered a traumatic brain injury. One fluke car accident and I was left with a whole new life trajectory full of challenge, sadness, anger, growth and acceptance. No one could have seen any of it coming.
Read more
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
10 Ways To Make Sure Your Work Day Doesn't Suck
Are you finding that your workday is leaving you completely frazzled and stressed? If you feel a large disconnect between your work and home life, as many people do, it's important to regain a sense of serenity at the office.
Here are 10 tips to ease your "office anxiety" and in turn help make other areas of your life calm and balanced as well.
1. Wait on the coffee!
The best way to lubricate, hydrate, and detox your entire body is by drinking a glass of warm filtered water first thing in the morning. For extra credit, add real lemon juice! Coffee is very dehydrating, so wait until you've had some breakfast and at least one glass of water before having your morning cup. You'll find yourself less anxious and won't experience such a large caffeine crash.
2. Take breaks to breathe.
It's easy to get lost in our workdays. Meetings, deadlines, and a full inbox can really take a toll on our mental health. It's important to remind yourself to breathe and practice a simple breathing exercise of 5 second inhales and 8 second exhales. Practice this for just five minutes a day and you'll notice awareness coming back to your body, which will help you relax when you encounter tense or overwhelming moments.
Read more
Here are 10 tips to ease your "office anxiety" and in turn help make other areas of your life calm and balanced as well.
1. Wait on the coffee!
The best way to lubricate, hydrate, and detox your entire body is by drinking a glass of warm filtered water first thing in the morning. For extra credit, add real lemon juice! Coffee is very dehydrating, so wait until you've had some breakfast and at least one glass of water before having your morning cup. You'll find yourself less anxious and won't experience such a large caffeine crash.
2. Take breaks to breathe.
It's easy to get lost in our workdays. Meetings, deadlines, and a full inbox can really take a toll on our mental health. It's important to remind yourself to breathe and practice a simple breathing exercise of 5 second inhales and 8 second exhales. Practice this for just five minutes a day and you'll notice awareness coming back to your body, which will help you relax when you encounter tense or overwhelming moments.
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Monday, March 17, 2014
Spring Clean Your Life! Start With These 3 Areas
Spring is (nearly) upon us, and with it comes the exciting and terrifying task of spring cleaning. Simplifying your life is an important piece of the wellness puzzle, so it's natural to want to dive headlong into the challenge. If you're putting together your spring cleaning plan of attack, consider bumping these three often-overlooked areas to the top of the list, and you'll find the rest becomes a whole lot easier.
1. Your online presence.
Spring cleaning doesn't have to be confined to the physical realm! Cleaning out your online “space” can help you feel more organized and relaxed — particularly if you spend a lot of time online.
Unless you're an email champion, odds are your inbox looks a lot like mine: cluttered, overwhelming, and full of unnecessary correspondence. Ads, unread newsletters, and spam spread like garden weeds, and they can quickly fill and choke this once-productive space. Take the time to clear the inbox, and don't forget to unsubscribe to regular updates you no longer want. (Most newsletters and ads have a tiny “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of their message. Two seconds now will save you hundreds of emails in the long run!)
Apply the same principles to your social media. Is your Facebook news feed feeling a little crowded these days? Maybe it's time for a friends list purge! Is your Pinterest account stressing you out? Reorganize those boards and toss a couple of dormant ones. Your brain will thank you.
Tip: Take this one slowly. Commit to tackling 5-10 emails a day, or unfriending three friends by the end of each week. Conquering this area in small doses will keep you from getting frustrated.
Read more
1. Your online presence.
Spring cleaning doesn't have to be confined to the physical realm! Cleaning out your online “space” can help you feel more organized and relaxed — particularly if you spend a lot of time online.
Unless you're an email champion, odds are your inbox looks a lot like mine: cluttered, overwhelming, and full of unnecessary correspondence. Ads, unread newsletters, and spam spread like garden weeds, and they can quickly fill and choke this once-productive space. Take the time to clear the inbox, and don't forget to unsubscribe to regular updates you no longer want. (Most newsletters and ads have a tiny “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of their message. Two seconds now will save you hundreds of emails in the long run!)
Apply the same principles to your social media. Is your Facebook news feed feeling a little crowded these days? Maybe it's time for a friends list purge! Is your Pinterest account stressing you out? Reorganize those boards and toss a couple of dormant ones. Your brain will thank you.
Tip: Take this one slowly. Commit to tackling 5-10 emails a day, or unfriending three friends by the end of each week. Conquering this area in small doses will keep you from getting frustrated.
Read more
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